Great ski chalets in the Alps

Chalet des Drus

For a large group with a large budget, Chalet des Drus is ideal.
It is a spacious, beautifully designed property set below Mont
Blanc with breathtaking views of the mountain and its surrounding
massif.

Although newly erected on what is - by the standards of the
narrow Chamonix valley - an enormous plot of land, the chalet looks
historic, because it is built of reclaimed timber. Inside, though,
everything is contemporary, top-notch and bespoke. The slate,
party-sized dining table has legs which were pieces manufactured
for the Eiffel Tower but not used in the construction; the
fireplace is a free-standing, metal 'statement piece' positioned
dramatically in the middle of the living space. The decorative
palette is primarily chocolate-brown, with stabs of burnt-orange
(the cushions on the beds and roomy sofas) and tangerine (the
leather dining-area chairs).

The chalet can either be booked on a self-catered basis or with
chef and service; the service is to be recommended, pitched at the
right level between butler-style stuffy and gap-year slack.
Friendly but professional, the staff are used to dealing with
heavy-hitter guests, who have included Kylie Minogue and footballer
Patrick Vieira.

The extras include Wi-Fi throughout, Nintendo Wii and Xbox, a
fully equipped private office for those who can't entirely cut
themselves off from work, and - to avoid disputes that might spoil
the party - not one but two home cinemas.

Chamonix's slopes are not for the faint-hearted. They are best
suited to the advanced skier who likes to head off-piste. Still,
there is good intermediate skiing in the Le Tour, Flégère and
Brévent areas. The nightlife is good, too: check out MBC (live
music, home-brewed beer) and the Chambre Neuf. The Clubhouse does
the best cocktails; No Escape is a luxury nightclub with VIP
tables.